Make the most of tight closet space with these storage-smart DIY projects.

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Many new homes boast spacious walk-in closets, but apartment renters and old-house dwellers must often contend with closets that are diminutive by comparison. Those who survive with so little storage are all too familiar with the fact that using every inch is essential. So if you are looking for clever ways to pack more into less space, begin your journey toward clutter-free living with these five favorite DIY closet organizer ideas from around the Web.

1. BUILD A SINGLE-SHEET PLYWOOD ORGANIZER

Photo: ana-white.com

With a handful of dowels, a quartet of closet rods, and a single sheet of plywood, Ana White created this DIY closet organizer—and you can, too, using the woodworking plans she provides free. A versatile solution, the setup includes ample room not only for clothing, but also for miscellaneous personal items.

2. INSTALL A SLIDING PANTS RACK

Photo: bunnings.com

Do you own more pairs of pants than you know what to do with? Consider a sliding pants rack. Either build your own or, if you prefer, purchase one ready-made. There are two great advantages to storing pants in this way: one, it prevents creases, and two, it gives you more real estate on the closet rod.

3. HANG A SECOND CLOSET ROD

Photo: marthastewart.com

For those poor in closets, additional closet rods promise rich rewards. Over at the blog 320 Sycamore, Melissa imposed tidiness on an unruly closet in one strategic stroke: By installing more rods, she brought the dead zones in her closet to life.

4. ADD A CLOSET DOOR SHELF

Photo: ana-white.com

A closet door can do more than simply open and close—it can provide storage for those sundry items that, if not corralled, create clutter and chaos. Even novice woodworkers can succeed in building this tiered array of shallow shelves specially designed to fit the back of the door panel.

5. PUT UP A PEGBOARD

Photo: lookiewhatidid.blogspot.com

Typically, pegboard organizes tools and heavy-duty accessories in our basements and garages. But Missy of Lookie What I Did ingeniously affixed pegboard to the back wall of a closet, disguised it under a veil of neutral-color fabric, and arranged it to serve as a catchall for ties, socks, belts, and other small items.

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